Naruto: From Kushina Uzumaki onwards, a traitor

Qianyu was somewhat puzzled.

He had just returned from Amegakure, and upon his return, he went straight to the Hokage Building and the Root base, before finally returning home.

Even Kushina Uzumaki was unaware that he had returned.

So even if Kushina Uzumaki forgot her keys, she shouldn't have knocked on the door.

Then the person knocking on the door wouldn't be Kushina Uzumaki.

So who could it be?

Chiba walked to the door and opened it, only to be surprised to find that it was Uzumaki Miyuki.

Qianyu asked, "What do you need me for so late?"

Miyuki Uzumaki replied, "It wasn't me who came to find you, but Lady Mito. Kushina went on a mission, so I'm currently learning sealing techniques from Lady Mito. The Hokage just went to see Lady Mito, and after their conversation, Lady Mito sent me to find you."

Chiba narrowed his eyes. It seemed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had gone to Mito Uzumaki to discuss the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

And if Mito Uzumaki were to seek him out, it would most likely be to discuss the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Qianyu nodded and said, "I understand, I'll go right away."

Chapter 134 Cross-examination

Miyuki Uzumaki arrived at Chiba's house and informed Chiba that Mito Uzumaki wanted Chiba to go to the Uzumaki mansion to see him.

Chiba replied to Miyuki Uzumaki that he would go right away.

Miyuki Uzumaki stretched and said, "Now that I've been notified, I'm going back to rest too."

Qianyu asked in surprise, "Aren't you going?"

Miyuki Uzumaki smiled and asked in return, "Why should I go? Lady Mito only asked me to inform you to go, not me to go as well. Besides, I think the Hokage was looking for Lady Mito, and Lady Mito was looking for you, so it must be about the Jinchuriki. Anyway, this is your business, and I just need to wait for the results."

Chiba looked directly into Miyuki's eyes and said gratefully, "Thank you."

Miyuki Uzumaki smiled and said, "This isn't like you. Besides, this is something I promised you. Alright, I'm tired after a long day, so I won't bother you anymore."

Miyuki Uzumaki waved to Chiba and then left.

After watching Miyuki Uzumaki leave, Chiba walked towards Mito Uzumaki's mansion.

Upon arriving at Mito Uzumaki's residence, Chiba met Mito Uzumaki at that moment.

Now, Mito Uzumaki is old and frail, and Chiba seems to be able to sense the deathly aura surrounding her.

Mito Uzumaki's aged voice rang out: "Chiba, you succeeded after all."

Chiba couldn't discern the meaning in Mito's tone. Was it regret? Or something else...?

After a moment of silence, Chiba asked, "So, you were disappointed that Kushina didn't become a Jinchūriki as you expected?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Chiba with somewhat cloudy eyes and said with a smile, "Your hostility towards me is still so strong, Chiba. Whether you believe it or not, I feel gratified right now—gratified for Kushina, and gratified for you."

You must have gone through a lot of hardships to make Hiruzen change his mind. For Kushina's sake, you didn't give up and persevered alone. This is enough to demonstrate your resilience and love for Kushina.

You were right back then. Between Konoha and Kushina, I value Konoha more because it was founded by my husband. Konoha carries my dream, Hashirama's dream, and I hope Konoha will get better and better.

However, my feelings for Kushina have never changed. I treat Kushina like my own child and have high expectations for her. My desire for Kushina to become a Jinchuriki is not entirely because of Konoha, but also because I believe that Kushina can turn the Nine-Tails into her own power.

"Qianyu, there are some things that require making choices. You'll definitely encounter similar situations in the future, and perhaps then you'll understand me."

Chiyu looked directly into Mito's eyes and said firmly, "Mito-sama, I may encounter situations where I have to make choices, but I will never understand you."

Mito Uzumaki's eyes showed some surprise.

Chiyu said in a deep voice: "When you reach the point where you have to make a choice, it means that the things you have to choose from are extremely important to you. Lady Mito, ask yourself, does the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki have to be Kushina? Does it have to be a member of the Uzumaki clan?"

If Jinchuriki must be from the Uzumaki clan, then why do other ninja villages have Jinchuriki if they don't have members of the Uzumaki clan?

Lady Mito, you are far from needing to make a choice. You have never been making a choice from the beginning. You have been thinking about Konoha from the start.

Because Konoha needed them, you chose your own clansmen as Jinchūriki.

Don't say you're worried that other Jinchuriki might easily cause the Tailed Beasts to go out of control. Although I say that the Mangekyou Sharingan can control Tailed Beasts, you, the Hokage, and Danzo all know that you only need a three-tomoe Sharingan to use Sharingan genjutsu to control Tailed Beasts, because Madara Uchiha did just that.

Even if one person can't do it, there are quite a few ninjas in the Uchiha clan who have awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. If all those ninjas work together and use the Sharingan's genjutsu, they will definitely be able to control the tailed beasts and help the jinchūriki control them.

It's simply because the Uchiha clan is not well-liked in Konoha, and people don't trust them.

I don't want to deny your feelings for Kushina, but you and Konoha want to use those feelings as an excuse to bind Kushina. How am I supposed to understand that?

Mito Uzumaki was speechless; she had no way to refute Chiba's words.

Suddenly, Chiba asked, "Lord Mito, I've always wanted to ask you a question: why didn't you take your husband's surname, Senju, after you married the First Hokage?"

Mito Uzumaki replied, "Back then, my marriage was a political alliance. Village Chief Ashina led Uzumaki Village to join Konoha and signed a friendship agreement with Hashirama. I married Hashirama and became his wife. The village chief suggested to Hashirama that I retain my name, Uzumaki, and Hashirama agreed."

Chiyu stared intently at Mito Uzumaki and asked, "Then why did Village Chief Ashina Uzumaki make this suggestion to Lord Hashirama?"

Mito Uzumaki guessed, "Perhaps the village chief wants me to always remember that I am a member of the Uzumaki clan."

A faint sneer appeared on Chiyu's lips as she questioned, "So, Lady Mito, you knew all along. But, did you actually do it?"

Mito Uzumaki felt a little uncomfortable: "What are you trying to say?"

Chiyu explained to Mito Uzumaki, "It's still about that matter. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, why didn't you go to support the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools? Please don't tell me it's because of Konoha."

Orochimaru-sensei told me why Konoha didn't support the Land of Whirlpools: simply because there was no benefit in it, since you had already given the Land of Whirlpools' most powerful sealing technique to Konoha.

Konoha couldn't gain anything by sending troops to support the Land of Whirlpools, so they chose to stand by and watch the Land of Whirlpools perish.

Lady Mito, I would like to ask you, if you always remember that you are a member of the Uzumaki clan, why did you not provide support? Even if Konoha did not choose to provide support, why did you, as a member of the Uzumaki clan, not go?

If you're trying to say that you're the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki and can't leave Konoha at will, then I have nothing to say. In that case, you're not a member of the Uzumaki clan, but merely... someone with the same surname who has absolutely no relation to the Uzumaki clan of the Land of Whirlpools.

Even the good-natured Mito Uzumaki couldn't help but get a little angry after being told that by Chiyu.

Chiyu, seemingly oblivious to Mito's somewhat angry expression, continued, "Furthermore, is Konoha now on the same path as the original intention of the First Hokage in founding Konoha?"

I think you must have heard about the whole affair involving Sakumo-sama back then, right?

And all that has happened before, I don't understand. Is it Konoha that you want to protect, Lord Mito, or the original intention of the First Hokage when he founded Konoha?

Don't you think that Konoha today has long since deviated from the original intentions of the First Hokage when he founded it?

Chapter 135 Stable

Upon hearing Chiba say that Konoha had deviated from the original intentions of Hashirama Senju in founding Konoha, Mito Uzumaki finally couldn't hold back any longer.

Mito Uzumaki rebuked, "Chiba, you are not allowed to question Konoha!"

Qianyu's smile widened: "Back then, my parents were persecuted by the Uchiha clan and hunted down by Konoha. Don't I have the right to question Konoha?"

So next time I'll bring Kakashi. After experiencing the Sakumo-sama incident, I wonder if Kakashi will be able to question Konoha.

If even Kakashi can't question Konoha, then surely Kushina, who never forgot her identity and always considered herself a member of the Uzumaki clan, could question Konoha, right?

Mito Uzumaki suddenly felt a little discouraged.

Both Chiba and Kakashi suffered unfair treatment from Konoha.

Looking into Chiba's eyes, Mito Uzumaki asked, "Chiba, didn't you used to love disguising yourself? Why didn't you do it this time? Is it because my time is running out, so I'm not going to pretend anymore? Aren't you worried I'll tell Hiruzen?"

Chiyu smiled and looked at Mito Uzumaki, saying, "Lord Mito, I'm about to work for the Hokage and Lord Danzo. It's about the Uchiha clan. So what if they know I'm dissatisfied with Konoha?"

Now, my identity and my strength are the most suitable tools to target the Uchiha clan. Moreover, Kushina will soon cease to be a Jinchuriki. In their eyes, I have no more disagreements with Konoha.

Do you believe it? If you tell the Hokage about my dissatisfaction with Konoha, he will only compensate me and appease me, because he still needs me to do the dirty work for them.

I am not the same person I was back then. As long as I am opposed to the Uchiha clan, the Hokage and the others will need me and will need me to risk my life for them.

Moreover, in their eyes, I would never betray them.

Mito Uzumaki looked at Chiba with confusion, not understanding why Chiba was so certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others would not betray him.

The vortex opened its mouth, stuck out its tongue, and revealed the curse mark on its tongue.

Mito Uzumaki's pupils contracted: "The Root's exclusive seal, the Seal of the Extinction of the Root... I see, you've already joined Root."

Chiyu retracted her tongue and continued, "Yes, I joined Root. It was because I joined Root that Lord Danzo agreed to let me persuade the Hokage to change the Jinchuriki. Hasn't the Hokage already come to see you?"

The Hokage has come to see you, presumably to ask for your opinion on replacing the Jinchuriki. Whether you agree or not is no longer important, Mito-sama.

Tomorrow I will be heading to the Land of Waves to fight the Uchiha clan and the Hidden Mist Village ninjas. By then, even the Hokage will not be able to force Kushina to become a Jinchuriki, let alone with Danzo's help.

Because I'm keeping those Uchiha under control, if those Uchiha ninjas find out that it was the Hokage who sent me to target them, who knows what the consequences will be?

"This is wartime, and the Hokage will absolutely not allow any instability to occur within the village. Your time is also running out, so the outcome is already decided, Mito-sama."

Mito Uzumaki stared blankly at Chiyu for a long time.

Then Mito Uzumaki sighed, "It must have been really tough for you, Chiba. After planning for so long, you finally succeeded. From finding Miyuki Uzumaki to joining Root, everything has been going smoothly according to your plan."

Qianyu shook her head and said, "No..."

Mito Uzumaki asked in confusion, "What do you mean it's not?"

Chiba stared at Mito Uzumaki and said, "My plan didn't start with Miyuki Uzumaki. I started working on preventing Kushina from becoming a Jinchūriki the day I became friends with her."

Mito Uzumaki's Heartbeat missed a segment.

When Chiba and Kushina Uzumaki became friends... that was when they were both in ninja school.

They were about 9 years old at that time.

Chiba and Kushina Uzumaki are both 18 years old now.

Nearly ten years have passed.

Has Chiba been working hard for almost ten years to prevent Kushina Uzumaki from becoming a Jinchūriki?

Mito Uzumaki frowned and said, "Wait a minute, how could you have known back then that Kushina was the next Jinchuriki?"

Chiyu smiled and said, "Lord Mito, everyone has their own secrets. Since they are secrets, naturally people don't want others to know, right?"

Mito Uzumaki took a deep breath and stared intently at Chiba.

The little boy she once knew has grown up, and she understands Qianyu less and less.